While certainly there is plenty to talk about today, whether it’s the Pirates’ crazy player development “training” or the whole thing about Melky Cabrera, but instead, I’m going to be putting a spotlight on something else: a movie trailer.

The trailer, to be more specific, for 42.  As the title and the fact you are on a baseball blog suggests, it is a movie about Jackie Robinson. It has a good pedigree, written (and directed) by Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland, and with Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey. Emmy nominee Christopher Meloni plays Leo Durocher. Somewhat wisely, Robinson himself will be played an unknown names named Chadwick Boseman, who’s previous roles have been on TV and an appearance as Floyd Little in the Ernie Davis biopic, The Express. A good move, really, as I worry that if a “star” were to be playing Robinson, it would overtake the story of Jackie Robinson. Let me put it another way: If Will Smith were 15-20 years younger and was cast in this movie, people would be watching the movie thinking about Will Smith, not Jackie Robinson. And that would not be a good thing.

Anyway, here’s the trailer. After it (and the jump), my thoughts:

Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey: Yes, the man who was once Han Solo, Indiana Jones and The President of the United States has now officially entered the elder statesmen part of his career (he’s 70!), playing prestige roles, perhaps with an eye for an award. And, amazingly, he doesn’t look that bad as the Mahatma of Baseball. Oh, you can still tell it’s Harrison Ford, but at least he sort-of resembles Rickey, particularly in the shot later when he’s got a hat on (which is odd, as you’d think having Harrison Ford in a hat would make him look more like Harrison Ford).

He looks like Robinson: I don’t know anything about Chadwick Boseman, but he definitely looks like Jackie Robinson as far as being an athlete. Remember, Jackie Robinson was not just probably the most important athlete in American history, he was also one of the best athletes period, a star at the High School and College level in football, track, basketball and, yes, baseball. He could easily have gone pro in any of them, and it’s even possible he might have been able to participate in the Olympics had it not been for the war (he wouldn’t have been the first in his family to do it, as his older brother had won a silver in 1936). Chadwick Boseman looks like he’s that type of athlete.

He talks (or, rather, doesn’t talk) like Robinson: One of the most important parts of Jackie Robinson’s life story is not just how much abuse he had to take, but how he had to take it, no matter how much he or any other man wanted to punch the bigots in the face for their taunts. Rickey knew that if the first black player in MLB’s modern era got into a fist-fight, it would make all of the naysayers and bigots look like they were right. This is why you see Rickey tell Jackie that he would have to have the guts not to fight. I’m glad that this is going to be in the movie, as it is a very important part of the integration of the majors.

Montreal: The inclusion of Robinson’s time with the Montreal Royales in 42 is, alas, probably going to be the only Montreal-related baseball thing in the year 2013.

Pee Wee Reese: The last image of the trailer is of a famous incident where Pee Wee Reese, the Dodgers’ captain and a Hall of Famer in his own right, came over to talk to and publicly show his support for Robinson. The image of a Kentucky-born veteran next to the African-American rookie spoke volumes.

The Jay-Z Music: The one complaint I have with this trailer is how they have a Jay-Z song playing over it. Not because I have any problem with Jay-Z, it just doesn’t seem to fit the material (especially when Jackie Robinson’s career inspired at least one song when he debuted). Although, to be fair, at least it’s a song that namechecks the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. Well played, Jay-Z. Well-played. However, I still must question your investment in the Nets.